Bacteria are an inescapable part of our life. Most of us think of negative things when we hear the word bacteria but, not all bacteria are created equal. Probiotics are a type of good bacteria that are found naturally in some foods and are an essential part of our overall health.
Studies suggest that friendly, probiotic bacteria could help to prevent illnesses such as diarrhea, indigestion, chronic inflammation, and irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, and colic in babies.
Our digestive tract, or gut, needs the good bacteria to function properly and has about ten times more bacteria than the rest of our body. The bacteria are needed to help the digestive process, to help in the absorption and synthesis of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, to aid in the function of the immune system to protect against infections, and to help keep harmful bacteria from growing out of control.
Many probiotic foods are produced as a result of the combination of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, or a combination of those two. They break down the carbohydrates and sugars in foods and make them more nutritious and digestible.
Not all the good bacteria are the same so it's important to consume a variety of fermented foods in our diet. Some of the probiotic foods available are natto, miso, and tempeh (made mostly from fermented soybeans), kimchi and sauerkraut ( made with fermented cabbage), and kefir (made from milk).
Kefir may be the easiest to make. All you do is add 'kefir grains' (purchased at many health food stores) to milk and wait about 24 hours or until it has the texture of runny yogurt. When you're almost out of that batch just use some of it to make the next batch. That can be done 7-10 times before you need to buy more kefir grains. This produces a dairy product that is more easily digested for lactose intolerant people. Introduce this into your system in small doses and monitor the affects before increasing the amount you drink. Unpasteurized whole milk is most often recommended but use whole milk from the store if you must. Whole milk, not skim or 2%.
I drink 4-6 ounces of kefir a day and eat my own homemade sauerkraut. I have noticed a better ability to handle other dairy products. Ice cream is one of my favorite indulgences and I am able to enjoy it much more than before I started including probiotics in my diet.
There are also probiotic supplements available. As with all things moderation is the key. Some of the side effects of supplements are gas and bloating. Some people that have had a drastic increase in both supplements and natural food sources have experienced immune system damage. Consult your doctor; get informed before you decide try probiotics.
Probiotics have been a hot item of discussion in recent years but, the fact is, they have been around for quite a long time. There is no direct evidence if probiotics were deliberately produced or were discovered by accident. I contend that if a person is hungry enough they will eat just about anything and that may be what happened with fermented foods. (I've always wondered about the trial and error process of mushroom testing. "Hey, honey. Why don't you give this a taste? Let me know what you think.") But, the consensus is that probiotics are an essential part of any diet especially because so many of the processed foods that people eat today may not have the necessary nutrients for optimum health. Do your own research and see if this is something for you.
Personal fitness, health issues, nutrition, and the connection of our mind and body are the things I've taken a great interest in for at least the last 30 years so I think I know of whence I speak.
I am not a physician, therapist, or any other kind of so-called expert and am not giving anyone any medical advice. I know what works for me and have spent a lot of time, money, and effort constantly learning as much as I could about all of those subjects. But I strongly advise anyone to consult their own physician before making any changes in their own life.
Where to Buy Kefir Online - Can I Order Kefir Grains Over Internet
Kefir is a simple drink that is made from the fermentation of sugar solution from many products including rice, water, sugar solution, milk, coconut and many others. You will need to inject bacteria and yeast in the solution, leave it for a few days and it will be ready to drink.
Kefir and Its Benefits
On my search to find products that aid with food allergies, I discovered a product call Kefir that is a Probiotic. Fermented from live kefir grains, Kefir milk contains bacteria and yeasts composed of lipids, proteins and sugars. The Kefir grains work to break down the sugar in milk, which makes this milk more tolerable for those who are sensitive to lactose.
Kefir Grains - Kefir Health Benefits
In 1908, Metchnikov wrote in his book "The extension of life" that the secret of longevity found in the Russian Caucasus Mountains was Kefir. Kefir is actually cultured milk that people made and consumed. The villagers of the Caucasus Mountains gave us the Caucasian yoghurt and kefir (milk fermentation product).
